Rank
Title
Weekend
Gross
Cumulative
Gross
Weeks in
Release
1
Epic Movie
$19,200,000
$19,200,000
1
2
 Smokin’ Aces
$14,262,000
$14,262,000
1
3
 Night at the Museum
$9,450,000
$216,738,000
6
4
 Catch and Release
$8,000,000
$8,000,000
1
5
Stomp the Yard
$7,800,000
$50,653,000
3
6
 Dreamgirls
$6,618,000
$86,651,000
7
7
$5,000,000
$152,947,000
7
8
$4,505,000
$16,253,000
5
9
The Queen
$4,000,000
$41,241,000
18
10
 The Hitcher
$3,598,000
$13,398,000
 2


If you needed another reason to hate American adolescents and their disposable income, please add the success of Epic Movie to your list. By giving $19 million and a number one spot to Epic Movie this weekend, those little bastards are single-handedly contributing to the perpetual spew of Insert Adjective Movies into cinemaplexes across the land. Paul Dergarabedian (from Media By Numbers) sums up the sad truth with "It seems these teen audiences have just this insatiable appetite for these spoofs." Indeed, Paul. If by “these spoofs” you mean, “the force that is single-handedly destroying the fabric of America.” Sigh.

In other box office news, Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces debuted in all its stylistic and firearmed glory at number two. My pal saw it and loved it. Sadly, he’s the exception to most critics who didn’t, and with a $14 million debut, I fear Jeremy Piven and his carnival of star-powered magician haters will tumble out of the top ten in short order, accelerated by next week’s slate (not to be confused with this weeks Messengers, etc.).

Night at the Museum still holds sway over most of the nation, dropping one measley spot to number three. Jennifer Garners rom-dram-com Catch and Release came in at number four with $8 million and, this may surprise you, 75% female audience. Apparently, they left all the dudes at home to do better things like watch Smokin’ Aces or enjoy a respite on Xbox Live while all the teens were at Epic Movie.

Stomp the Yard had its day in the warm embrace of flaccid competition but didn’t have the staying power to keep it from dropping to number five this round. Dreamgirls, which has been all over the box office chart, begins a parade of Oscar contenders at number six. The Pursuit of Happyness, Pan’s Labyrinth and The Queen (both holding tight with higher receipts this week than last) represented the golden naked swordman in spots seven through nine. The Hitcher plummeted to number ten, looking for a nice family to get him the hell out of Dodge.

Blood and Chocolate missed the box office boat completely, with a debut at number 15, which made Primevil (now vanished) feel that much better about itself.